(BEDFORD) - The county will be offering 78 properties that were not purchased at the annual tax sale on Aug. 31 at a discounted price.

The Lawrence County Commissioners voted to implement tax sale certificates for those properties.

A delinquent property tax sale is required when an owner of real estate fails to pay the property taxes from the prior year's first property tax bill installment.

The property may be sold to the highest bidder to satisfy the tax obligation. The owners of the property have one year to redeem the delinquent property taxes, costs and penalties to keep the property.

This year's sale resulted in the collection of $502,399.35 in delinquent property taxes from owners and buyers. Delinquencies, penalties and costs were paid in full for 343 parcels.
Indiana code allows the commissioners to sell the parcels at a public sale for an amount not less than the amount required and offered at the prior tax sale.

The commissioners establish a discounted price for each parcel in a resolution, which is published three consecutive weeks prior to the certificate sale.